. Of course we are speaking of popular novelists. The
popularity of the novelist is in proportion to his lack of
literary style. The distinctive popular charm of Bunsey is that
he is not literary--at least, if he is, his critics have not
succeeded in discovering it; he successfully conceals his crime.
If he is popular, it is because he is not literary; if he were
literary he could not be popular."

"That does not seem right," said my little Puritan.

"It is not a question of ethics at all, but a matter of
taste. However, don't be prejudiced against Bunsey because
he is a product of the time and fairly representative of the
civilization. You shall meet him and shall learn from him how a
man may succeed in so-called literature without any hampering
literary qualifications."

Mary did not receive my proposition in a thankful and
conciliatory spirit. She shook her head doubtfully, and when we
were alone together, she gave voice to her fears.

"Phyllis is country-bred," she said, "and knows nothing of the
toils and snares that beset young girls in the city."

"Toils and snares," I echoed. "One might gather from your
objections that we contemplate taking Phyllis to the city merely
to expose her to temptation and corrupt the serenity of her mind.
You seem to forget the elevating influences of my modest home."

"No, John; I dare say that your home is not objectionable, taken
by itself. But I am not blind to the seductions of the great
city. You too forget," she added, with a touch of complacency,
"that I am not inexperienced or without knowledge of the
profligacy of the town."

"Granting all this," I said, highly diverted by her earnestness,
"and what are some of these seductions you have in mind?"

"Theatres," she replied promptly, "theatres and late hours,
midnight suppers--and cocktails."

I laughed uproariously. "My dear Mary, if these deadly sins and
perils alarm you, we'll cut them out. I care little for theatres,
and less for midnight suppers. And as for cocktails, I shall make
it my peculiar charge to see that Phyllis never hears the
abominable word. Allowing for the removal of these temptations, I
still think that a trip to the city would do our country flower a
world of good, though I have nothing but praise for the manner in
which you have brought her up."

"John," she answered very gravely, "I have endeavored to do my
duty as I saw it. I have tried to bring Phyllis up in the nurture
and admonition of